According to reports, Manchester United are attempting to stymie Chelsea’s pursuit of Barcelona star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Aubameyang and the Blues have had preliminary discussions about his potential move to West London.
After arguing about his worth for weeks, they’ve made a final £17 million offer to Barca.
Aubameyang appeared eager to work with Thomas Tuchel, his former Borussia Dortmund manager, again at Chelsea, so a transfer to Stamford Bridge appeared inevitable.
After giving a standout performance in the club’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Manchester City, the 33-year-old even gave fans of Barcelona a final wave.
However, the two parties’ personal terms have caused a snag in the negotiations.
Aubameyang is seeking a two-year contract, but the Blues are only interested in offering him a one-year deal because SunSport exclusively reported his age.
Chelsea is still optimistic that they can reach a deal with the Gabon international before the transfer deadline.
But if Premier League rivals Man United have their way, that won’t be the case.
According to transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, the Red Devils are also looking for a new striker and have chosen Aubameyang to give them some firepower up front.
United’s interest is a response to Ajax rejecting their £76 million offer for winger Anthony.
United are preparing to live without Cristiano Ronaldo, who is expected to leave the club if he can find a suitable replacement.
